Skink babies a surprise for Perth Zoo

Perth Zoo reptile keepers had a surprise delivery over Easter when an Australian shingleback skink, confiscated from a smuggler late last year, unexpectedly produced two babies.

The smuggler, caught at Perth Airport, was fined $2000 in February and sentenced to 12 months in jail.

Perth Zoo reptile keeper Emily Trainer said there were no signs the shingleback, which has been at the zoo since January, was pregnant.

Shingleback skinks have a five month gestation period so Ms Trainer said the mother probably became pregnant while in quarantine with six other seized lizards just before she was moved to an enclosure with another female.

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"She's put on a little weight but not a lot, and shingleback babies are born quite large so it was a shock," Ms Trainer said.

She said the two babies were in good health.

The reptiles are worth more than $4000 each on the Asian black market as exotic pets.